Misconstrued Sounds: Concert Reviews

Polyphonic Spree - Nashville - Uptown Mix

DISTANCE WORTH TRAVELING TO SEE THIS BAND (5 Hours)

There are few things which you will ever experience in life like a Polyphonic Spree Concert. The exception being if you are in a strange cult like happy religion... or if you were a flower child of the 60's with a lot of musically talented friends.

Polyphonic Spree headed to Nashville for a performance on a Rainy Wednesday this August. Fortunately the rain just limited the crowd, and letup right at the beginning of the concert. Maybe this was because it was known that they would end with the Classic, Here Comes the Sun... where the band sings in unison looking heavenward, as if the sun is there only hope (even though it is the middle of the night).

But there is no other live band that has a performance of the polyphonic spree. Over 25 people singing in unison, playing ever instrument you can imagine, (even the violin)creating true psychedelic excitement! There is no way you can stand at one of these concerts and not be happy (and also have the desire to just close your eyes and start spinning, dancing, jumping in unexplained jubilation... jubilation just to be alive!)

Playing songs mainly from Together We're Heavy, the band also hit other popular favorites such as Soldier Girl. The total performance lasted well over one and a half hours.

The most memorable moment of it all though, is not the jumping praising antics of the lead singer, the memorable flashy bright colored robes, not even the united swaying of the chorus section (9 people sang together in the chorus). No one thing will last in your mind. The harp player... that is....The head banging performance of the harp player. I have never ever ever seen someone rock out so hard on such a large stringed instrument. Kudos to you rocking harp man!

And beware... just when you think everyone is happy and joyous. Well, a close look to the drum section hiding in the back finds a strong beating anger that creates just enough tension to keep things going in the band.

If you get a chance to see these people definitely check them, you'll love the evening, and actually wish you were one of them. Because, well they just look like they are having fun!

Snow Patrol - Washington DC - 9:30 Club

So lets say you drive to Washington DC, as a wedding photographer... its late, but you hear Snow Patrol is playing at one of the coolest Venues in DC... What are you gonna do?

Well go to the Midnight show of course, then get 3 hours of sleep and drive home.

Snow Patrol played the 9:30 club in DC Saturday Night. It was amazing but we arrived only minutes before they got on stage, and found few there... We walked right up to the stage ... close as you could get (as you see in the shots!).

What we were in for, was musical greatness! If you've never heard of the snow patrol... well you need to check them out, they are a great Indie Pop/Rock band with an energetic floating ambient sound. Confusing? Indeed.

But when you see them live (and As I must say you have to...) You'll be amazed. So much energy is poured out on the stage. You would think you were watching a really hard band, but actually they are quiet mello! Hard to believe when you watch how much they get into their music.

Also of note: I've never seen a band member cry on stage, but the base player teared up and started crying during one song. Now thats passion for your music.

But also sad, was he had taped down on the stage the lyrics for 3 songs... and we watched him read the lyrics for at least one of them. Guess its for when he goes blank (been there relate to that). But after the show, I got those lyrics, and a pic...

He told us he was enjoying his US tour, and how much better the DC crowd was than the Atlanta crowd. Hopefully they'll get some coverage in the states becuase these guyz have a ton of talent!

Anyways, check them out while they grace the states, a unique opportunity that you must take! And if you missed them, they said they'd be back this fall, Mark your calendar!

Watch a Clip of the show (set to the song Wow...) (my camera had no audio

Visit there site to listen to some more of their tunes and watch their video

Pedro the Lion - Birmingham, AL - Workplay Theater

The Misconstrued Team headed Down To Birmingham to enjoy a Pedro the Lion/Death Cab for Cutie Show. We sat down a bit with Pedro the Lion to learn more about the band.

The concert was supurb. If you aren't familiar with Pedro the Lion they are a mellow indie rock band. Termed emo sometimes, it would be on the calm non tempermental scale of folk emo music.

Those songs played among others included: (Links to video clips have audio trouble (since I dropped the camerea).)

When They Really Get to Know You they will Run
Penetration
New Song from Achilles' Heel
Just Talking about Birmingham/another tour name Paperback
New Song from Achilles' Heel
Foregone Con
Big Trucks
Rapture
Criticism

David Bazan the mastermind of Pedro the Lion, is just a down to earth nice guy, with a thinking head on his shoulders. His concern and sencerity is seen in his music and shows.
Bazan is the only central part to a group that has been made up of over 30 people over the last 4 albums of release. However, based on this it is obvious who is the cohesive force of the group.

We will have a review of their new Album Achiles Heel soon enough, but you can visit the site and listen a bit to there music now!

We were able to get some time with David Bazan (Lead Singer/Band Leader), as well as Tim Walsh (Drums).
Listen to his responses on:

Some have Called Pedro a Christian Band, what Is Bazan's Response to this?
What is the song Of Minor Prophets and Their Prostitute Wives About?
The Latest Band Members Explain How they were added to Pedro
Does the Band Hope to make it Big?
What does the Word Misconstrued make Walsh think of?

Continue reading the extended entry to Read the entire interview with him, and watch some video clips of his response to various questions.

Of course there was more to the interview as well here are some other questions and responses of the interview with Bazan.

J- What do you think of the South?

D-I really like the south. Southern accent is so warm and inviting. People are really nice even in big cities. I love that. You think Mark Twain and such, its just great. I mean, I love black folks. They are a comfort to see. Make me happy. And there’s just not as many up north.

J-What do you think of the latest review of the album on allmuic?
D-Their review of the latest album…that was flattering. I don’t even know if its as good as they say it is.

Ben Kweller walkes in
Conversation with Ben

D-How’d it feel man?
B-felt like crap. Nah..its just dark, red lights and all. Hate that man. But I love the star. The star was awesome.

J-you guys do some great music.
D-well, these guys have some talent. Its just about working hard, filling in the gaps.

J-What was your best tour?
D-for me most special tour was with Bed Head. I just loved those guys. Texas Band. Mid 90’s broke up and formed New Year. Well they went on tour and asked me to open for them, and that amazing. I opened solo for them. I’d get to the show and hang out with them. Just asking them “Ya know this song, what made you write that?” and “This lyric here…that’s great!” just great times with them and hanging out. That was a great tour.

T-What is the meaning of the Priest and paramedics song?
D-My uncle, he was a paramedic. And so there was this one guy in the neighborhood who was ya know…drug addict, drunk, and all the time getting in trouble. And one night, I guess he just got way too messed up and ended up getting some 3rd degree burns. Yeah, real bad. And he’s in the ambulance and my uncles there with him. And the guy just would not calm down and seriously was freaking out. Coming in and out of consciousness and going crazy asking “Am I gonna die!? Am I gonna Die!?!?” My uncle he was trained, as all paramedics are, to never tell the person they are gonna die. But this guy was just going nuts. So my uncle looks at him, knowing he was going to die cause he was just so bad off, and my uncle looks him in the eyes and knew he had to level with him. So he tells him straight up “You are gonna die tonight man. In fact, prolly in the next 15 minutes. So you better get yourself straight with God and make sure your ready.” And the dude just calmed down and went into a daze and just… I guess got himself straight with God and such. And then of course he did die that night, about 15 or 20 minutes later he did die. So I just took that story about a man, and made it into a song about a husband and went from there.
T-well its an amazing song. One of my favorites.